How to Build a Home Gym in an Apartment

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Exercising is very important for everyone, but sometimes it’s hard for us college students to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. One good solution to this problem is to build a home gym. It’s easier to work out if you can do it in the comfort of your own home. However, most of us don’t have a lot of money or space to spare for building a home gym. Still, it’s possible for a college student with limited space and finances to build a home gym that’ll help them stay in great shape. Here are some tips on building a home gym in an apartment.

Image via Isorepublic.com

Buy the right equipment

Buying the right equipment is key to building a successful home gym. There are some pieces of equipment that can be used for multiple exercises, so you would get the most for your money if you buy those home gym staples. These pieces of equipment include:

A yoga mat

A jump rope

A set of dumbbells

A set of resistance bands

With these four pieces of equipment, you can get a great full body workout in, and they don’t even need to be that expensive!

Make sure you can store your equipment

The pieces of equipment I mentioned earlier are great not only because they are versatile, but because they can be easily stored. You can roll up a yoga mat, jump rope, and resistance bands, and dumbbells don’t have to take up so much space. You have some options, though, about where and how to store them. For example:

Hide them. You can hide away your equipment in something like an ottoman. This strategy will help keep your equipment out of the way, and will free up some much-needed space.

In plain sight. You can use your equipment pieces as décor by mounting them on the wall! If you do a quick search on Pinterest, you’ll find many great ideas on how you can do this.

Vertical storage. If you like the idea of mounting your equipment on the wall, consider organizing them in vertical columns rather than horizontal rows. It’ll free up space on the wall and will look less cluttered.

When space is scarce in your small apartment, you’re going to need equipment that can be easily stored. Consider both the type of equipment and the type of storage you will need for them while you are building your home gym.

Invest in high-quality machines

If you have enough space to have a machine, like an elliptical or treadmill, definitely go for it! However, make sure it is a good quality machine. You will definitely get what you pay for, so do your research and invest in a good machine. It’s also a good idea to measure the amount of space you have available for the machine. This way, you don’t accidentally get something that doesn’t fit in its designated place. A high-quality machine that’s the right size is an excellent investment for your home gym.

Protect the space

If you’re living in a small apartment, you will likely be using your bedroom or living room as your home gym. It’s very easy to damage your workout space. For example, a dumbbell can fall on your wooden floors or your elliptical can slam into the wall. You don’t want to damage the space while you work out. Get protective rugs for your floors, and make sure your bigger equipment is a safe distance from the walls. This way, you can prevent any of the previously mentioned accidents from happening.

Add mirrors

Adding mirrors will not only make your apartment look bigger, but it’ll also be great for your home gym. Real gyms have mirrors to help you examine your form and make sure you are doing the exercises properly (and for post-workout selfies, let’s be honest). If you don’t have someone working out with you in your home gym, you will have to examine your own form. A mirror will help you with that. Plus, it will make your space look more like a real gym.

Decorate it!

Building off the previous point, decorate the space you want to call your home gym. Add pictures, plants, a bulletin board, and even a TV. These things will make your space prettier and will motivate you to work out. Again, Pinterest will have some great ideas for home gym decorations.

Space and money are often limiting factors when it comes to building a home gym. But even with limited space and money, you can create a great home gym that’ll inspire you to stay active.

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